Ratliff likely done for the season after hernia surgery

Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff’s season likely came to an end when he underwent surgery for a sports hernia Thursday in Philadelphia.

The four-time Pro Bowl pick sat out the last three games after suffering a groin injury

Ratliff is the ninth starter or starting-caliber player Dallas has lost to injury this season. Six of those players have been on defense.

The hernia injury, coupled with an early season ankle injury, limited Ratliff to only six games this season. For the first time in his eigth-year career, he failed to register a sack.

The injury-plagued season isn’t the only reason why this season has been troubled one for Ratliff. After a 38-33 win over Philadelphia on Dec. 2, he got into a verbal altercation with owner Jerry Jones that nearly turned physical.

The dust-up started when Jones, 70, told Ratliff, 31, the club needed him on the field. According to Mike Fisher of KRLD-FM and CBSDWF.com, Ratliff made disparaging comments about Jones’ age during the confrontation.

With Ratliff out, it’s all but certain Sean Lissemore will start the remainder of the season at nose tackle.